Kwok wins first gold for Chinese Hong Kong at Beijing Paralympics

Source: Xinhua | 09-09-2008 21:36

BEIJING, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Kwok Hoi-ying showed wonderful composure as she conceived an exciting come from behind victory over Nigel Murray of Britain in the Mixed Individual BC2 to win the first gold medal for Chinese Hong Kong at the Beijing Paralympic Games here on Tuesday.

The world top ranked Kwok lost three points in the opening set but managed to fight back with precise throws and took a 4-3 lead in the third set.

The 22-year-old looked in great form in the final set by expanding the advantage to seal the victory against the Sydney Paralympics champion Murray 5-3.

"I performed very well except the first set, but I could see the gold after I threw my first ball in the final set," Kwok said.

Murray, 44, created a piece of history by winning Britain's first individual boccia medal at the Paralympics.

"Right now I'm sort of disappointed. I had a best possible start and let the gold slip away basically," he said.

Joao Paulo Fernandes of Portugal successfully defended his title by overcoming his compatriot Antonio Marques 8-1 in the Mixed Individual BC1 final.

"It was not an usual final, because there was practically no pressure. However, the way to the final was tough because of some strong players like Wang Yi of China and Gabriel Shelly of Ireland," said Portuguese coach Helena Bastos.

"We can see that players from South Korea, China and Hong Kong of China are getting stronger and stronger. I think we should pay more attention to them in the team competitions."

Chinese Wang lost to Gabriel Shelly of Ireland 6-2 in the boccia bronze medal match, but he had made the best result for China at Paralympic boccia competitions.

In BC3 category final, the 18-year-old Park Keon-woo of South Korea impressively knocked down the world top ranked Grigorios Polychronidis of Greece 3-2.

"It was unbelievable! My coach told me to play the game as if we were training. The crucial point to my victory was my concentration," Park said.

Later, Kwok's teammate Leung Yuk-wing added a silver medal as he was defeated to Dirceu Pinto of Brazil in the final of BC4 category 3-1.

Boccia competition, slated for Sept. 7-12 at the Beijing Paralympics, attracted 88 players including 62 men and 26 women from 20 countries and regions.

Boccia is a ball tossing game for people with cerebral palsy, played in 42 countries and regions and governed by the International Boccia Committee(IBC), under the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association.

Editor:Du Xiaodan